Wolfpack head football coach Dave Doeren has announced that Dave Huxtable, a 31-year coaching veteran, has joined his staff and will serve as defensive coordinator. Huxtable comes to Raleigh after spending last season as defensive coordinator at Pitt.

"Dave is an ACC veteran coach with a great track record of fundamentally sound, tough, hard-nosed defenses," said Doeren. "He and I have similar defensive philosophies. We know a lot of the same people and they all say that he is tremendous as a coach, a person and a technician.

"He has a great track record recruiting in the state of Florida from his time at UCF, in Atlanta from his time at Georgia Tech and throughout the south. He also has experience in the state of North Carolina from his time at UNC."

During the 2012 regular season, the Panthers ranked 16th in the NCAA in total defense (325.8), 21st in scoring defense (19.7), 24th in rushing defense (129.1) and 25th in passing defense (196.8).

Panthers’ defensive lineman Aaron Donald earned first-team All-Big East honors after leading the conference and ranking 11th nationally with 18.5 tackles for loss, while safety Jason Hendricks was a second-team selection after leading the Big East and tying for ninth nationally with five interceptions. The Panthers will play in the BBVA Compass Bowl against Ole Miss on Jan. 5.

In 2011, Huxtable served as linebackers coach at Wisconsin. While in Madison, he oversaw the development of first-team All-Big Ten performers Chris Borland and Mike Taylor. The pair spearheaded a defense that helped the Badgers win the Big Ten championship and earn a Rose Bowl berth.

Prior to his stint at Wisconsin, Huxtable spent seven seasons at the University of Central Florida (2004-10), where he was instrumental in that program becoming a perennial Conference USA title contender. He was the Knights’ special teams coordinator and linebackers coach his initial four seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2008.

In his final year at UCF, Huxtable’s defense helped the Knights to the finest season in school history with an 11-3 record, the C-USA championship and a 10-6 victory over Georgia in the 2010 Liberty Bowl. UCF ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (17.1 points/game), eighth in rushing defense (108.4 yards/game), 15th in total defense (315.4 yards/game) and 18th in pass efficiency defense (113.0 rating).

Under Huxtable’s watch, defensive end Bruce Miller was a two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and finished his career as UCF’s career sacks leader with 35.5. Miller was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft.

From 2001-03, Huxtable was on the staff at UNC, coaching the linebackers each of his three seasons and serving as defensive coordinator his final two years. Huxtable coordinated the Tar Heels’ special teams in 2001. His pupils at UNC included a pair of NFL Draft selections in David Thornton and Quincy Monk. Thornton, a former walk-on, emerged as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most productive defenders en route to All-ACC honors.

Huxtable also worked in the ACC during a six-year stint as linebackers coach at Georgia Tech (1992-97), where he was elevated to defensive coordinator his final two seasons. Under Huxtable’s guidance, Keith Brooking finished as the school’s career tackles leader (467 stops) and was a first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons. Huxtable also coordinated the Yellow Jackets’ special teams for three years.

Huxtable served two tours at East Carolina (1990-91 and 1998-99), coaching a number of the finest teams and players in ECU history. Among his pupils was linebacker Robert Jones, a consensus All-American who went on to be a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys and winner of three Super Bowl rings. Jones starred for the Pirates’ 1991 team that went 11-1 and finished with a national No. 9 ranking.

Huxtable’s other coaching stops include Oklahoma State (2000) and Western Kentucky (1985-89). He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa State (1982) followed by his first full-time appointment at Independence Community College in Kansas as defensive coordinator (1983-84).

"I'm extremely excited, and feel privileged to have the opportunity to come to NC State University, be a part of the football program, and work for head coach Dave Doeren," said Huxtable. "NC State is a program with tremendous potential and I believe that under the leadership of Coach Doeren, there are many exciting days ahead for the Wolfpack."

A 1979 graduate of Eastern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in education, Huxtable and his wife Vicki have two children: Jake and Shea.

"I would like to welcome Dave and his wife Vicki, his son, Jake, and his daughter, Shea to the Wolfpack family," Doeren continued.